VIRAC, Catanduanes – Governor Joseph Cua lamented that his province remained cut from the rest of the Philippines with no available signal from telecommunication companies, and food and water supplies running flow in the aftermath of typhoon Rolly.
Cua told The Manila Bulletin that his province was still “isolated” as of press time, and most parts of Catanduanes remained inaccessible with major roads clogged by fallen posts and landslides.
“Sa ngayon po, wala pa kaming makuhang data sa ibang munisipyo dahil hindi pa madaanan yung mga kalsada dahil sa mga tumbang poste ng kuryente, ng kahoy at landslides,” he said.
(As of now, we cannot get any more data from the other municipalities because the roads are impassable with fallen electric posts, trees, and landslides)
Typhoon Rolly made landfall in Bato town in Catanduanes early morning Sunday, and left a wide swath of destruction.
Cua reported that almost 65 percent of the houses was totally damaged.
He also said there was impending water shortage after the Virac Water District (VIWAD) was shut down due to major damage to its facilities.
“It will take at least three months siguro para ma-restore ang tubig. Jetmatic pump o deep well ang ginagamit ng iba. Kaya kailangan talaga naming ng tulong,” he said.
In Virac town alone, at least half kilometer of queue was seen at the lone water-refilling station operating.
“Kinakatakot naming dito baka magkaroon ng outbreak sa diarrhea dahil sa kakulangan ng tubig,” he added.
“We also need support for G.I. sheets since lahat ng bahay nawalan ng bubong,” he said.
On Monday, the Bicol Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) team, led by Office of the Civil Defense-Bicol DRRM Division Chief Jessar Adornado; Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bicol Regional Director Arnel Garcia; Brig. Gen. Adonis R. Bajao of Task Force Sagip of 9ID of the Philippine Army, Brig. Gen. Rommel Tello of the 902nd Infantry Brigade, and Tactical Operations Group (TOG) 5, and Philippine Air Force’s Col. Randy Pascua were able to conduct aerial assessment of the damage in the province.
After the aerial inspection, a meeting was concluded in the province’s disaster risk reduction operation center with Cua and Catanduanes lone district Rep. Hector Sanchez.
During the meeting, Cua also requested P100 million funds for the assistance of abaca farmers in the province.
“Dito kasi sa amin, abaca ang major na ikinabubuhay ng mga tao dito. Millions of peso din ang kontribusyon ng abaca sa ekonomiya ng aming probinsiya,” he said.
In the meantime, DSWD Region 5 has initially promised at least 5,000 food packs and 100 laminated sacks.
After “Rolly’s” devastation, three were reported to have died due to drowning in Virac, one was killed by wayward lumber in San Miguel town, and five were injured, while one remained missing.
Cua also said that a state of calamity will be declared as soon as possible in the entire province.